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"content": "(Mr. Oparanya): Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand here to support the Motion and to thank the Member for Emuhaya for bringing this Motion. This issue of poverty survey became prominent when CDF was established in 2004. Otherwise, the Government has been carrying on surveys for just the purposes of planning. The first survey was done in 1982. This survey was supposed to evaluate and monitor the impact of the Structural Adjustment Programme that time in the mid 1980s. We went further in 1992 and did another survey which we called Welfare Monitoring Survey I. In 1994, we did another survey which we called the Welfare Monitoring Survey II and we also did the third survey in 1997. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, a more comprehensive survey which was called the Kenya Integrated Households Budget Survey was conducted between May 2005 and May 2006. It took 12 months. As correctly stated by hon. Members who contributed to the Motion, this survey covered a sample of 13,390 households. This particular survey cost the Government Kshs462 million. Since then we have not conducted any other survey. We had planned to carry out a survey in 2010, but unfortunately, this was not possible because we, as a Ministry, we made our proposal to the Ministry of Finance to afford us Kshs600 million to carry out the survey. Unfortunately, this was not availed to the Ministry up to this moment. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, every budget year we have always asked for money to carry out survey. You will note that even the survey we did in 2005/06 most of the money came from donors. It shows that we, as a Government, are not serious in the collection of data. However, with now the new Constitution and the new county governments, it is important that we get reliable data that can be used for revenue allocation. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I agree that if we have to allocate revenue equitably, we have to have a survey even from the sub-location level, leave alone the ward level. You find even in my own constituency some locations are poorer than others because of the geographical factors. When the Motion came up I requested my officers to look at this. That particular survey will cost the Government Kshs2 billion. However, I feel this is necessary if we have to ensure that there is equitable distribution of resources. I want now to take this opportunity to respond to some of the issues that have been raised by Members of Parliament when contributing to this Motion. Dr. Otichilo did indicate that although the Kenya Greatest Household Budget was conducted in 2005/2006 the sample design of the survey does not give direct estimation of constituency level poverty estimates. This is true because when we did the survey at that time, we had 69 districts. The survey was targeting the districts at that time. We had 210 constituencies. When the CDF came up, we were forced to distribute money based on poverty and population at the constituency level. So, it meant that as a Ministry through the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, we had to do some estimation up to the constituency level. Therefore, what we have that we are using now is actually an estimation because our targeted level of survey at that time was at the district level. I agree with the Member on that issue. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the second issue that was raised by the mover of the Motion as the sample size was too small. I agree that a sample size of 13,000 households is not a representative. If you look at Kenya now, we have 12 million households. However, this was not a census because finally we use some scientific methods to do some estimation. I agree that 13,000 was not an adequate sample size. However, by that particular time, we were doing a survey and not a census. It was used and that is the position now. I promise that if we are to do the exercise we will widen our sample size. The third issue raised was that the concentration was in urban areas. I do not agree with that. If you looked at the detailed document the sampling was both affecting urban areas and rural areas. Lastly, Dr. Otichilo says that the questionnaire was too elaborate. I would agree with you that sometimes especially when we are dealing with the rural poor, you need to have a simple questionnaire as possible. Those particular segments will be taken into consideration when we are doing the exercise again. Dr. Kones when contributing said that he suspects that the figures were manipulated at the Ministry. I want to assure Members of Parliament that actually this particular exercise is done by professionals. We have professionals employed in the Ministry. We have professionals employed at the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics who actually carry out this particular exercise. Dr. Otichilo knows this very well. He has worked in the Ministry before and he knows the competency of the people who work in that particular Ministry. Dr. Kones also raised the issue that we should not use samples and do 100 per cent survey. It is not possible because this is a survey and it means that you are sampling out. If you are doing 100 per cent then it means that you are doing the entire 12 million households which will not be possible from a practical point of view even the capacity in terms of manpower and finances. I would want Members of Parliament to understand this survey is not a one-off thing like the census. Census is carried out on a particular night. For example, last time we carried out census on the night of 24th and 25 of August. However, this particular survey takes a whole year. It is, therefore, not possible to carry it out on 100 per cent. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I agree with Mr., Munya that it would be very unfair to use old statistics to allocate money. As I said, I would plead with this august House to support me get money to carry out this particular exercise. Unfortunately, time is running out. It will not be possible to get figures ready for the next devolved governments. As I said, this exercise takes a whole year. However, I am hopeful that 450 million which was allocated to the Ministry for a repeat census exercise can be reallocated to this particular exercise so that I start undertaking the new survey. Procedurally, this particular exercise is supposed to be undertaken after every five years. We have a medium term plan for five years and the exercise should also be taken after five years so that those particular results are picked up in the next medium term plan. We have a medium term plan that is coming to an end (2008 to 2012). If we undertook this particular exercise then the outcome of the exercise would have been taken up in the medium term plan of 2012 to 2017 but unfortunately this has not happened. It is not in a law but it is an international practice that this exercise is undertaken after five years. Since the Government has been unwilling or unable to fund this particular exercise--- As I have said, in most cases, we have been depending on donors. It is important that maybe legislation comes up to compel the Government to do this exercise every five years. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the survey is usually done by professionals. This notion that it is not properly undertaken is neither here nor there. We have competent people to carry out this exercise and sometimes if we do not have enough capacity we have support from development partners. The figures finally come out scientifically and they are tested because these are figures that we use for planning. With those few remarks, I highly support the Motion and I hope that the Government will avail money to the Ministry to make sure that the next exercise is carried out as urgent as possible."
}